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Achievement: Madison Sneve received first place national ranking on the Greek 3 contest at the 2015 National Junior Classical League Convention in San Antonio in July. She received rankings in 16 other contests and was the only local student to earn first place in a category. She received first place in Greek 2 in 2014.

Background: The purpose of the National Junior Classical League, formed in 1936, is to encourage an interest in and an appreciation of the language, literature and culture of ancient Greece and Rome and to impart an understanding of the debt of our own culture to that of classical antiquity. The organization has 50,000 members from chapters across United States, Canada and Australia. About 16,000 students competed in 2015 in over 40 categories.

Why she wanted to enter: Highlands Latin School, where Madison attended through middle school, required classes in Greek and Latin. She began studying Latin in fourth grade and Greek in seventh grade. She said that she loved Greek so much she couldn’t give it up when she went to Manual, where Greek is not offered, so she has continued to study Greek with a private tutor, Anthony McDonald. She continues her study of Latin at Manual with teacher Cynthia Shiroma.

How she came to love classical languages: “At first, it was hard - memorizing everything – but once I got it down I was able to read classic works in the original languages,” she said, adding that now her knowledge is “the coolest thing: I see derivatives everywhere, even in a language I don’t know, I can figure it out. And in science, the naming conventions are based on Greek and Latin.” She said her knowledge pays off when taking standardized tests, especially on vocabulary. She wants to thank her Greek tutor, her Latin teacher and her parents “for supporting me. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.”

At the conventions: Madison said at her first convention in 2014 her mother had signed her up to go and she wasn’t prepared at all. She said her high score was “some kind of miracle.” This year, she “prepared a whole lot” and could see how much she had progressed from the year before. She explained that everyone takes the same test but you compete against the other students in your own level.

While in San Antonio: She said the Kentucky delegation of students arrived early and toured the Alamo, which she said was fun but hot. Evenings during the convention featured dances and social events, and her favorites were the “Roman Murder Mystery” event and the Toga Dance.

The best moments: Madison said her favorite moment was “winning the title I had worked so hard for, but I also enjoyed spending time with people I had met at past conventions, and meeting new people.”

Madison’s home life: Madison lives in Middletown with her parents Jackie and Mark Sneve.

Teacher Quote: “The thing which most makes Madison extraordinary - and there are many from which to choose - is that she is talented in several unrelated fields,” teacher Cynthia Shiroma, said. “Her amazing skill in languages is surpassed by her research in science, which at the very least is equaled by her abilities in music. She is truly a Renaissance girl. She has an unbelievably inquisitive mind and she is constantly seeking new knowledge. She is every teacher's dream as a student.”

Plans: Madison says students can compete every summer through the summer after their senior years in high school, so she has three more years to compete. She says that Greek is her hobby, but science is her passion, and she intends to choose a college to focus on science but plans to continue to study Greek and Latin.

She enjoys: Playing the piano, studying, playing with her two dogs, playing video games